Washington Freedom extended their dominant run in the Major League Cricket 2025 season by clinching their fifth consecutive victory with a thrilling five-wicket win over the Los Angeles Knight Riders. The high-octane clash at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday went right down to the wire, with the winning runs coming off the final ball.
Mitchell Owen played a game-changing cameo, blasting 43 off just 16 balls, while captain Glenn Maxwell added 42 from 23 deliveries to help chase down LAKR’s formidable total of 213. Earlier, Andre Fletcher lit up the venue with a sensational century, scoring 104 off 60 balls with six sixes and seven fours. However, a dropped catch by LAKR skipper Jason Holder on the final ball of their innings proved costly, as Fletcher’s ton ultimately went in vain.
Washington Freedom’s chase began with fireworks from Owen, who took on the LAKR bowlers during the powerplay to set the tone. Once he departed, Maxwell took charge, dismantling the opposition attack with calculated aggression.
He particularly targeted Andre Russell, hammering two sixes and a four in a single over that yielded 19 runs. At that point, WSF needed 63 runs from the last seven overs, with Maxwell well set at 41 off 21 balls and seemingly on course for his first half-century of the season.
However, LAKR found a glimmer of hope in the next over, bowled by young Australian leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. The first ball of the over brought a wicket, and Sangha kept things tight, conceding just three runs.
On the last ball, Maxwell tried to release the pressure by going for a big shot over mid-wicket. Sangha cleverly bowled a short-of-length googly that turned into the right-hander, and Maxwell, deceived by the turn and bounce, missed it completely.
The ball snuck through the gap between bat and pad, crashing into the stumps and leaving Maxwell stunned. He was left kneeling in disbelief, realizing how crucial that dismissal could be in the context of the game.
Sangha celebrated the wicket with quiet satisfaction, acknowledging the helpful low bounce with a knowing smile. Though it was part skill and part fortune, the breakthrough had come at a crucial time, swinging some momentum back toward LAKR.
What a way for Glenn Maxwell to get out 🤯 After smashing it all over the park, it took that to stop him! 🛑 pic.twitter.com/bib7jicMXS
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 27, 2025
Wicketkeeper Unmukt Chand’s jubilant reaction highlighted the importance of the dismissal as he sprinted toward Sangha for a high-five and hug. Despite the late twist, Washington Freedom kept their composure and chased down the target off the final delivery. The victory not only kept their unbeaten streak alive but also reinforced their status as strong title contenders this season, with both their power-hitters and bowlers stepping up at key moments.